Sensing Magic
by Teddylonglong

Please refer to chapter 1 for my disclaimer and warnings. Thank you.


Severus smirked, realising that Harry seemed to finally feel comfortable enough towards Minerva to mind think to her. 'Another small progress,' he thought, contentedly, as he followed Harry, Lucy and Lupin back to his quarters with Poppy on his heels. 'I wonder what he wants to do with shrivelled moon berry fern.'

"Harry said something that Lupin was missing shrivelled moon berry fern," he quietly informed the healer, who returned a surprised look.

"Does he know that Remus is a werewolf?"

"I haven't told him. I suppose that it's solely instinct, and I am curious as to what he intends to do."

Poppy nodded, just when they arrived in front of Salazar's portrait guarding their quarters.

"Harry, what's wrong? Why don't you go in?" Severus quirked an eyebrow at the ancient wizard in the portrait. "Salazar, this is Remus Lupin, a guest of Harry and myself."

"Harry already introduced him to me, before he asked if I could join you in your herb garden, because you might need my expertise," Salazar replied, as he opened the door for them.

Severus' eyes widened in surprise that only intensified, when Lupin handed Harry a quickly conjured photo frame, into which Salazar slipped without further ado, once he closed the door behind them.

Together, they quietly made their way into the herb garden, where Salazar suddenly began to hiss at Harry.

"Now, tell usss what thiss isss about, but sssspeak aloud pleassse. We all want to hear it."

Seemingly ignoring the ancient wizard's instruction, Harry stepped over to where Severus had been raising several plants of moon berry fern, before he hesitantly began to speak.

HP

"I think Mr. Lupin needs this," Harry uttered in a barely audible voice, only to think to Severus, 'but I don't know how. It might be part of a potion.'

He listened with interest, when the adults discussed the so-called Wolfsbane potion, and Severus admitted that he had brewed a first batch for Uncle Moony, which he had been taking from the day before yesterday and would have to take again tonight and tomorrow right before the full moon.

"As Mr. Lupin has already taken the potion twice if I understood correctly, it is in his system, so if Harry senses that he is missing shrivelled moon berry fern, I suppose that it has to be added to the Wolfsbane potion. It would help if we could see the recipe."

Severus nodded in understanding at the ancient wizard's words. He called Cicero and asked him to bring the recipe of the Wolfsbane potion and stay for the discussion. Poppy even called Misty to assist as well. Harry smiled at the elf. She was very kind, and he liked her a lot, even if she was strict and always made him speak aloud, no matter what the topic was or who was around.

Harry listened quietly when Severus and Salazar discussed the possible use of shrivelled moon berry fern in the Wolfsbane potion and finally decided on a stage, at which it most likely had to be added.

"Harry, do you perhaps know if this would be correct?" Severus finally asked, showing him the recipe, which Lucy immediately displayed for him.

Harry shrugged, as his knowledge about potions was insufficient for such a decision to say the least.

In the end, the professors decided to try it out, and Severus retired to his private lab together with Cicero and Salazar's portrait, while Poppy and Remus remained with Harry in Severus' living room.

HP

"Harry, thank you so much for trying to help me," Remus spoke up in a soft voice, while Poppy asked Misty for refreshments, which popped up on the table a moment later.

"Harry, would you mind if I called Minerva to join us?" Poppy then enquired. "I'm sure that she would neither want to miss your birthday nor your attempt to cure Remus."

Harry shook his head, smiling at the kind witch.

"Harry is a natural healer," the healer then explained for Remus. "Harry, do you know what Remus' problem is?"

Harry shook his head, giving Poppy a questioning look.

"Have you ever heard of werewolves?" Remus enquired and, seeing that Harry shook his head again, began to explain what a werewolf was. He admitted how he had been bitten as a four-year-old and ever since then changed into a wolf during the night of the full moon. "When your parents and our friends found out about it, they decided to become Animagi, so that they'd be able to keep me company during the full moon."

"Harry, do you know what an Animagus is?" Minerva asked, kindly.

'No,' Harry thought to her, receiving a swift explanation from the Transfiguration professor, before she quickly transformed into her feline form, causing Lucy to step over and sniff the cat with apparent interest.

'Will I be able to become an Animagus?' Harry enquired, feeling absolutely thrilled at the idea of transforming into a dog like Lucy.

"I am sure that you'll be able to become an Animagus, considering how strong your magic is," Minerva reassured him, once she had transformed back into her human form. "I'm not going to teach you before you're at least a student at Hogwarts though. The Animagus transformation is not even taught to the students, as only very few wizards and witches manage to transform."

'I'll find out how it works and will try to transform,' Harry resolved. 'I can't wait to be able to roam the castle together with Lucy.'

Just then, Severus entered the room. "As we fortunately had the potion for tonight and tomorrow at an advanced stage, we've already added shrivelled moon berry fern and finished two doses. Harry, would you mind taking a look at the potion? Perhaps, you'll be able to sense if it's correct?"

Harry nodded. 'Can we take Remus with us please?'

HP

The three wizards retired to Severus' private lab, where Misty and Cicero were eagerly conversing with Salazar Slytherin in his small portrait.

"Harry must be related to me, as the ability of speaking Parseltongue is a distinctive trait of the Slytherin family," the ancient wizard informed the elves.

Harry decided to file that information for later on and simply concentrate on the task ahead for now. Lucy showed him a golden cauldron that was sitting on the table in front of them. A light brown potion was simmering in it. Waving Remus over, Harry concentrated on the magic coming from the werewolf in comparison to the liquid in the cauldron. 'It still lacks some magic,' he thought and, allowing his natural healer instincts to take over, added his own healing magic to the concoction, before he nodded, contentedly.

"I hope it will work," he said in a small voice, knowing that he wanted Severus, Remus, Salazar and the elves to hear, considering that they had all helped with the potion.

"Lupin," Severus addressed his former classmate, "are you willing to try it out? You should spend the night in the Shrieking Shack, as the effects of the Wolfsbane might be rendered useless by the changes."

"Of course, I will," Remus replied, sounding delighted. "Thank you all so very much for your efforts. Even if I will try to not get my hopes up, I am very grateful." Without hesitating, he sipped the steaming potion from the large cup that Severus handed him.

When they returned to the living room, Remus addressed the healer. "Poppy, it might be too soon to say anything, but I already feel the effects of the potion. I feel better than I've ever felt before in spite of the approaching full moon. Could you perhaps check on me?"

"With pleasure," the healer replied, and through the images relayed by Lucy, Harry observed how Poppy cast a series of diagnostic spells at the man, before she let her wand sink. "I cannot find any trace of lycanthropy anymore. Nevertheless, you should spend the night of the full moon in the Shrieking Shack just to be sure."

"Should I still take the potion tomorrow before going to the Shrieking Shack?"

"I don't think that it's necessary," Poppy replied, and Severus nodded his agreement.

"Harry," Remus turned to him, tears leaking in his eyes. "All these years, I've hoped for a wonder, for someone to invent a cure for lycanthropy, but when your parents died and a world broke together for me, I gave up all hope. I can't thank you enough for what you've done for me today. Thank you, Harry."

'You're welcome, Uncle Moony.' Harry cast the older wizard a broad smile, feeling very happy that he had managed to help the man. 'He's really nice,' he thought, happily.

"Harry, I believe that it's now time to open your presents," Minerva changed the topic, and Lucy suddenly showed him a table to the right, on which his presents were piled up.

He received several books out of the series of the five magical friends, of which he was still reading the first volume enlisting Lucy's help and liked it a lot. He also received clothes as well as a voucher for the shop of Mr. Ollivander, the wand maker at Diagon Alley as Minerva explained.

When he finally finished opening all presents, Lucy stretched out between him and Minerva on the sofa with her head on his lap, and Harry gently cuddled his familiar, deep in thoughts.

'I never received presents, and I was always told that I'm a freak and didn't have a birthday. But here in the magical world at Hogwarts, everything seems to be different,' he thought. He was brought back to reality, when he heard Salazar speak up from his usual portrait at the entrance door.

"As I said earlier, I believe that Harry is a relative of mine. Severus, I ask you to take him to Gringotts as soon as possible and have the goblins do a genealogy test."

"Speak with Buckbean. He is the Potters' account manager," Minerva encouraged his guardian.

"We shall do so during the next few days. Is that all right, Harry?"

Harry nodded. 'Yes sir. Thank you, sir,' he thought to his guardian, only to add, 'I'm sorry to be such a bother.'

Severus' voice suddenly became strict. "Harry, you are not and will never be a bother, not to me and not to my colleagues. Please remember that."

'Yes sir,' Harry replied over the simultaneous gasps from the witches assembled, sensing that Severus wanted a response.

"Severus." Harry recognised Moony's voice. "I believe that you should consider introducing Harry to a mind healer knowing what abuse he suffered with the Dursleys."

"That's a good idea." Minerva sounded excited. "I even know the appropriate mind healer for him."

"And who might that be?" Harry inwardly chuckled. Even if Lucy was fast asleep next to him and did not relay images, he could imagine how his guardian quirked an eyebrow at his older colleague, with whom he seemed to love a small banter every now and then.

"As you know, I am good friends with Arabella Figg and sometimes visit her to interpret between her and her cats. A couple of times, I have met her best friend, who is also a Squib. She is a mind healer and a very gentle person on top of it. Regina Lestrange."

"Lestrange?" Severus sounded horrified, as he asked in a dangerously quiet voice.

"Yes. She is the younger sister of Rodolphus and Rabastan Lestrange and was sent away from the family at a young age, when they realised that she was a Squib."

"Preposterous," Salazar bellowed. "There are means to give Squibs magic after all."

"Minerva, please contact her and invite her to visit Harry and me once in the near future, so that they can get to know each other and Harry can decide if he'd be able to speak with her."

"When would it be convenient for the two of you?"

"Any time. During the holidays, we can adjust to her schedule."

'Severus? What is a Squib?'

"Harry, a Squib is a person born from magical parents but unable to do magic himself or herself," his guardian explained, patiently.

"Harry, you know Mrs. Figg, don't you?" Minerva asked, gently, and when Harry nodded, said, "She is also a Squib."

'Why did she never tell me about magic and that I'm not a freak then?' Harry wondered, when a small voice at the back of his mind reminded him that Mrs. Figg had assured him multiple times that he was not a freak. It had simply been impossible to believe, as the Dursleys had told him otherwise on a daily basis.

Harry did not notice that the headmistress stepped over to the fireplace and spoke with someone and was surprised to hear Minerva announce that she had asked Arabella Figg to speak with her friend about a visit to Hogwarts at her earliest convenience. "Arabella promised to have Regina floo-call Severus tonight."

'Thank you,' Harry thought to the kind, old witch, knowing that she had taken the effort to help him.

"I have a question." Lucy, who had woken up by now, showed Harry Remus Lupin, who addressed seemingly no one in particular. "From Albus' invitation, I understood that he wants me to come to Hogwarts to teach Defence Against the Dark Arts; however, Minerva's words make me believe that you want me to teach Harry everything that he needs to know before becoming a student here."

"Both is correct," Minerva replied, smiling. "Do you know Miranda O'Neill?"

"Miranda? Yes, she was a Gryffindor in the year behind us."

Minerva nodded, seemingly contented, before she explained that the Defence Against the Dark Arts position was cursed and that the teachers had thought about having Remus and Miranda take turns teaching classes a year, while the other would teach Harry.

"So, that means during the upcoming school year, Miranda will teach Harry, while I am going to teach classes?"

"Yes. Would you be agreeable to this solution?" Severus enquired. "We would, of course, provide you with the Wolfsbane potion every month, provided that it is still necessary after today."

"It probably won't, but thank you very much. I happily accept both positions. Have you already spoken with Miranda about the matter?"

"Yes, we told her, as soon as we set up the plan to prevent her from accepting any other job, and she agreed, although she and Harry have not met yet. She has promised to come to Hogwarts to meet with us on Thursday next week."

"Oh good; that's after the full moon then."

Harry had the impression as if the older wizard looked happier than when he had first seen him in the morning.

HP

As soon as the following morning, Regina Lestrange stepped through the fireplace into the Snape quarters, where Minerva, Remus and Poppy had once again joined Severus, Harry and Lucy.

"I am Regina Lestrange. I apologize for visiting on a Sunday morning," she said, as she more stumbled than stepped out of the fireplace.

Harry immediately liked her. Her voice sounded very friendly, and from the image Lucy relayed to him, he could see that a soft smile was playing on her lips. Her magic felt extremely weak though, but he recalled that Minerva had said she was a Squib. 'I can still feel her magic though. Mrs. Figg didn't have any,' he thought in confusion, resolving to ask Misty about the matter later on.

"Thank you for coming on such a short notice." Severus' voice sounded equally soft. He introduced his colleagues and finally Harry and Lucy, before he explained about Harry's problems resulting from his past with his muggle relatives. "Do you believe that you'll be able to help Harry?" he finally enquired, quirking an eyebrow.

The Squib nodded in apparent understanding. "I believe that I will be able to help Harry; however, it depends on if he is willing to trust me and to work together with me. I must admit that I have never helped a wizard before. Minerva has probably told you that I am a Squib and usually work in the muggle world."

'I can sense her magic though, and I could not sense any coming from Mrs. Figg,' Harry urgently thought to Severus, somehow feeling excited at the thought. 'Lucy, do you think I can help her with magic?'

While Severus repeated Harry's observation aloud, Lucy rose from the sofa, stepped over to where Regina was sitting and gently licked the woman's hands, before she returned to Harry's side and gave him a soft nudge. 'Speak with her. She's very nice.'

"Please help me," Harry said in a barely audible voice, causing the woman to smile broadly.

"All right, Harry. I will try to help you."

"Usually, a Squib's magic lies between zero and two percent," Poppy spoke up, seeming pensive. "It is surprising that Harry can feel your magic, however, could not sense Mrs. Figg's. You must know that Harry is a natural healer, one of one there is every two hundred years, and he can sense magic."

Regina let out a deep sigh. "Oh, I so wished I had magic. I was devastated when my father kicked me out of the family, when I was eleven years old. He ordered one of the elves to take me into the muggle world and have me attend a muggle school, as I wasn't able to go to Hogwarts like my older brothers…" She slowly trailed off.

"Didn't Salazar say something that it was possible to give Squibs magic?" Minerva looked at Severus, who quirked an eyebrow at the portrait in silent question.

"It has several requirements that are not fulfilled in this case," Salazar replied, sounding extremely grumpy.

'Could I perhaps help her?' Harry wondered, tuning the adults' conversation out. He concentrated on the small bout of magic he could feel; however, there was nothing he could do to possibly increase it. 'I'd need to touch her,' he finally realised; however, did not dare ask for permission. 'She wouldn't want so many others to watch, and it probably wouldn't work anyway. Otherwise, someone would have helped her a long time ago,' he thought, inwardly sighing.

While Harry had been following his own string of thoughts, the professors had agreed with the mind healer that she should visit the Snape quarters twice a week and spend some time with Harry to see if she could help him overcome the abuse of his early childhood at least mentally.

HP

"Any thoughts on Ms. Lestrange?" Severus sounded bored; however, Harry could sense that his guardian seemed strangely excited. They were sitting in their favourite spots in the living room with Lucy fast asleep on the sofa next to him.

'I like her a lot. I wonder if I'll be able to help her with magic,' Harry replied, pensively. 'I'd need to touch her to try though.'

"You can try it out eventually. But even if your magic is quite strong for your age, you must be very careful to not use too much magic. A wizard's magic usually increases at the age of eleven, and people's magic is only fully developed at the age of around sixteen. Depleting your magic is extremely dangerous and can lead to the complete loss of your magic." Severus sounded strict, and Harry nodded in understanding.

'I will be careful,' he promised, sincerely.

"If you feel tired at the latest, you must immediately stop."

'Yes sir.'

"I also want you to only make attempts at healing magic if Poppy or I are nearby, so that we can help you in the worst case."

HP

'I sound like a mother hen,' he thought in disgust at his own protectiveness of the child. 'Oh well, he is my ward, and I've sworn Lily an oath to keep him safe,' he thought, not yet ready to admit to himself that he had begun to really care for the child.

'Regina seems to be really special,' Severus thought, surprising himself by the fact that he found her less annoying than every other woman he had met in the last decade.

tbc...

Thank you so very much for the kind reviews for the previous chapter. Please tell me what you liked or disliked in this chapter and what you expect from this story. Any ideas are welcome, and my muse appreciates any constructive feedback.